Addressing COVID-19 - Shut Down Tips

March 24, 2020.

With shelter-in-place directives becoming more far-reaching, now is the time for risk managers and procurement staff to think about project shut-downs. By being proactive, you not only protect your clients’ interests, but just as importantly, you’ll be ready to resume the project when given the go-ahead to do so. Among the steps you should take:

Review—and clearly understand—the terms of all contracts

Know the implications of shutdowns and restarts for unions and trades

Make a complete record of the site, using both written and photographic documentation

Determine actions for safety and security. Should equipment be left in-place or returned? What kind of site-security provisions will be needed during shutdown? How can materials already on site be protected and stored?

Compile the current status of labor hours and schedule performance

Complete a valuation of work at the time of shutdown

Not only do these actions establish a baseline for reactivating a project, they also establish you as a trusted advisor for your clients. Construction has always been an intensely collaborative effort; now more than ever before we in the AEC industries need to work as a team to ensure continuity and quality in our businesses. If you have questions or concerns about navigating these issues, Rider Levett Bucknall is ready to assist.

About RLB

With a network that covers the globe and a heritage spanning over two centuries, Rider Levett Bucknall is a leading independent organisation in cost management and quantity surveying, project management and advisory services.

Our achievements are renowned: from the early days of pioneering quantity surveying, to landmark projects such as the Sydney Opera House, HSBC Headquarters Building in Hong Kong, the 2012 London Olympic Games and CityCenter in Las Vegas.

We continue this successful legacy with our dedication to the value, quality and sustainability of the built environment. Our innovative thinking, global reach, and flawless execution push the boundaries. Taking ambitious projects from an idea to reality.